Stihl MSE 250 C Instruction Manual page 16

English
To avoid kickback
The best protection from personal injury
that may result from kickback is to avoid
kickback situations:
1. Hold the chain saw firmly with both
hands and maintain a secure grip.
Don't let go.
2. Be aware of the location of the guide
bar nose at all times.
3. Never let the nose of the guide bar
contact any object. Do not cut limbs
with the nose of the guide bar. Be
especially careful near wire fences
and when cutting small, tough
limbs, small size brush and saplings
which may easily catch the saw
chain.
4. Don't overreach.
5. Don't cut above shoulder height.
6. Begin cutting and continue at full
speed.
7. Cut only one log at a time.
8. Use extreme caution when
reentering a previous cut.
9. Do not attempt to plunge cut if you
are not experienced with these
cutting techniques.
10. Be alert for shifting of the log or
other forces that may cause the cut
to close and pinch the saw chain.
11. Maintain saw chain properly. Cut
with a correctly sharpened, properly
tensioned saw chain at all times.
12. Stand to the side of the cutting path
of the chain saw.
14
Bow Guides
WARNING
Do not mount a bow guide on any STIHL
chain saw. Any chain saw equipped with
a bow guide is potentially very
dangerous. The risk of kickback is
increased with a bow guide because of
the increased kickback contact area.
Low kickback saw chain will not
significantly reduce the risk of kickback
injury when used on a bow guide.
A = Pull-in
Pull-in occurs when the saw chain on the
bottom of the bar is suddenly stopped
when it is pinched, caught or encounters
a foreign object in the wood. The
reaction of the saw chain pulls the chain
saw forward and may cause the
operator to lose control.
Pull-in frequently occurs when the
bumper spike of the chain saw is not
held securely against the tree or limb
and when the saw chain is not rotating at
full speed before it contacts the wood.
WARNING
Use extreme caution when cutting small
size brush and saplings which may
easily catch the saw chain, be whipped
towards you or pull you off balance.
To avoid pull-in
1. Always start a cut with the saw
chain rotating at full speed and the
bumper spike in contact with the
wood.
2. The risk of pull-in may also be
reduced by using wedges to open
the kerf or cut.
B = Pushback
A
Pushback occurs when the saw chain on
the top of the bar is suddenly stopped
when it is pinched, caught or encounters
a foreign object in the wood. The
reaction of the saw chain may drive the
chain saw rapidly straight back toward
the operator and may cause loss of
chain saw control, which, in turn, may
cause serious or fatal injury. Pushback
frequently occurs when the top of the bar
is used for cutting.
B
MSE 250 C